The 40 Best Albums of 2020
Above is Metacritic's list of the 40 best-reviewed albums of 2020, ranked by Metascore. This list only includes new albums receiving at least 15 reviews from professional critics (though you'll find a quick list of the top albums with a smaller number of reviews at the end of the gallery.)
Otherwise, all full-length studio albums (or mixtapes) released between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020 are eligible, though reissues, live albums, box sets and other compilations are excluded. Albums are ranked by Metascore prior to rounding based on scores as of December 23, 2020.
(#3) Mike Hadreas scored the best reviews of his increasingly distinguished career with his fifth album as Perfume Genius. The 13-song set was produced by Grammy nominee Blake Mills, who also worked on Hadreas' previous album, 2017's No Shape.
“It’s an absolute tour de force, a record full of drama and emotion and pleasure and pain.” —DIY